Custom frames
Custom frames
When we talk about building your own bike, in reality that means choosing your spec and assembling the kit to turn a pile or parts into your latest pride and joy. But if you want to go full custom you can always have a frame made for you.
This goes from using manufacturers’ online to get the colour you want (think Trek’s Project One, and more and more brands are following suit by offering a custom paint programme) all the way down to finding a frame builder that’ll measure you up and build each tube to your exact specifications and in the material you want (up to and including bamboo…).
There are so many wonderful frame builders around (take a look at our visit to Bespoked Bristol for inspiration) and many of them are from the UK, so you can get really hands on in the production process.
And the best part of a custom frame is that it should be the best fit you’ll ever achieve on a bike. Even if you have comically long legs and arms shorter than a tyrannosaurus you’ll be able to construct a frame that’ll fit you – and you won’t need 50mm of spacers, either.
Plus you can go all out with the colour scheme. Rather than just picking a colour from a template as with most online bike builders, you can choose something really unique and amazing – the guys at Field Cycles have a few examples of fantastic paint jobs on their site – and design something guaranteed to turn heads wherever you ride.
Of course, if you want to say you’ve truly built your own bike, then you can do just that. Enigma Bicycle Works’ Frame Building Academy lets build their own steel frame over the week-long course.